Interview – Cecy Robson ~ Weird Girls ~ Giveaway (+traduction)

Cecy Robson is the author of the new urban fantasy series: Weird Girls. The Weird Girls (12/04/12) is a novella that presents us a little story about our four sisters and Sealed with a Curse (12/31/12) is the first book of the series. You can find the review of the two books here. Thanks to Cecy for answering our questions. We hope you’ll enjoy this nice interview.

I have seven planned at the moment, with a potential for more and at least two spin-offs in the making.

Was it difficult to write the first book? How long did it take?

I wrote Book One in my WEIRD GIRLS series from May 1st to June 3rd, 2009. It was incredibly easy because I didn’t know what I was doing . . . and quite possibly did everything wrong. I’m not a classically trained writer so I threw everything in that sounded exciting—demons, werebeasts, decapitation, funny—vampires with tans who dress like naughty Catholic schoolgirls, and sexy—hunky preternaturals anyone with a pulse couldn’t resist. The characters and the humor worked fabulously. The plot? Ah . . . not so much. The grammar? Hideous. Yet my voice and the heart of the story were there. I knew I had something special, but I also recognized I needed to do it justice. Book One ultimately underwent at least fourteen rewrites, possibly more.

Is it different to write a novella? Is this one indispensable to read the first book?

I’ve written my books and novellas so they can be read independently and out of order. In reading them out of order, however, readers will miss out on character development and foundation of some relationships.

THE WEIRD GIRLS novella is actually a prequel to SEALED WITH A CURSE, and the first glimpse at my “weird” world. It takes place when Celia, Taran, Shayna, and Emme Wird first move to the mystical region of Lake Tahoe. After a lifetime of failed attempts to acclimate among humans, the sisters finally feel they’ve found a place to call home. The local clan of witches, though, see them as a threat. One that needs to be eliminated. I actually found the novella harder to write since I had to develop the sisters so they stood out independently, throw them into rather intense, life-threatening situations quickly, make it funny, stir in action and conflict, and wrap it up in just a few pages. That being said, it’s an incredible thrill-ride, packed with tremendous emotion. I’m so excited with how it came out. And, as an added bonus there’s a few WEIRD GIRLS extras included, such as the first two chapters of SEALED WITH A CURSE.

How do you find your titles? Did you imagine them all when you started the series or do you brainstorm each time?

The titles to each of my books were Weird Girls One, Two, and Three. Every time I came up with a super cool title, some other author had already pounced on it. My editor at NAL, Jhanteigh Kupihea, and I actually brainstormed a great deal. The titles I thought of for Book One were dark and a little twisted like, BLOOD RARE or RARE HUNGER. Book Two, since it deals with demon offspring, was affectionately called SPAWN LAKE or sometimes CHILDREN OF A LESSER SPAWN. Sadly, none were keepers, but Jhanteigh was kind enough to appreciate my sense of humor.

Jhanteigh birthed SEALED WITH A CURSE, which I love. The play on words encompasses the action and passion consistent with Urban Fantasy Romance.

How did you end up writing Urban Fantasy books? Is there any other genre that appeal to you?

I grew up in a rough neighborhood. To this day I find reality more frightening than anything fantastical. If a UF novel becomes too intense, I can close the book and take a breath. Sometimes life doesn’t offer that opportunity. I do like humor. The Bridget Jones Diaries were two of my favorite reads. Ultimately though, I always return to the scary beasties that bump hard in the night and the heroes who stop them.

What influences what you write?

Anything. I developed my entire premise for a future novel just by attending a rock concert. It just takes one thought and my creativity latches onto it like a school of piranhas.

Do you write full time? If no, do you hope to eventually do so?

I write Monday through Friday. I work as a Labor and Delivery nurse every Saturday and Sunday. And yes, I would love writing to be my only profession.

Does the inspiration for the characters come from people you know?

Not so much people I know, but rather characteristics or traits I admire. My lone wolf, Bren—Celia’s best friend—is representative of all the males I’ve been close to, who have made me laugh when I needed to, and protected me with all the ferociousness of creatures with fangs and fur during my most trying times. In turn, my bad guys stem from things that anger me—arrogance, prejudice, and cruelty.

Is there a character more difficult than the others to write?

For a long time, my toughest character to identify with was Shayna. She’s the second to youngest sister and the Mistress of All Things Sharp and Pointy. Yet Shayna and I have become very close recently. I think we’ll be BFFs from here on in.

Does your cover represent what is between the pages?

The cover is spot on with what happens. I’m so grateful to members of the art department at Penguin.

Who is your favorite character in the series?

I love all my characters, even the not-so-nice ones. Celia has my heart since the first four books are told from her perspective. The vampires who dress like naughty Catholic Schoolgirls are a great deal of fun. They’re inappropriate, obnoxious, and absolutely hysterical. Celia wants to stake them most of the time, but I really enjoy them.

Have you already other plans for future series? Or is it top secret?

I have two spin-off Weird Girls series in mind, but I’m not supposed to talk about them with anyone who doesn’t know the password and secret handshake. : ) I’m also working on a high-fantasy category romance called The Old Erth Series, but I’ll admit I haven’t had much time to work on it.

Can you tell us a little something about the first book?

Picture four young women so unique, they don’t fall within any race of human or mystical creature on earth. Imagine they’ve been ostracized and mistreated for being different all their lives. Now envision a master vampire so desperate to save his family, he calls on these women to help him. The sisters are paired against the deadliest preternaturals on earth, with no training, and only each other to rely on. Needless to say, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Did you need to do a lot of researches for your books?

I did with regards to where they live, and where they visit. I’ve never been to Lake Tahoe, nor some of the Central American, and African countries the sisters travel to in the next few books.

Do you have a favorite author? Or a favorite book?

I love the world-building and characters of JK Rowling, the beautiful and haunting writing of Patricia Briggs, the action and humor of Karen Chance, and the wit and edge-of-your-seat storylines of Jim Butcher.

Where is your favorite place to write?

Any place quiet where I can sit comfortably and focus.

Have you ever been in France?

No, but my wolves have. They studied Savate in Paris. I hope to visit one day.

Cecy (pronounced Sessy) Robson is an author with Penguin’s SIGNET ECLIPSE. She attributes her passion for story-telling back to the rough New Jersey neighborhood she was raised in. As a child, she was rarely allowed to leave the safety of her house and passed her time fantasizing about flying, fairies, and things that go bump in the night. Her dad unwittingly encouraged Cecy’s creativity by kissing her goodnight wearing vampire fangs. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, she began writing her Urban Fantasy Romance Series, Weird Girls, in May 2009. THE WEIRD GIRLS: A Novella, debuts December 4, 2012 followed by SEALED WITH A CURSE, December 31, 2012, and A CURSE EMBRACED, July 2, 2013.

Oh, thank you, Melissa. I’d like to thank Melliane for the interview. I had so much fun answering her questions and giving readers an opportunity to learn about my series. I hope you’ll give my Weird Girls series a try.

Thank you, Maja. I thought Melliane’s questions were fabulous and allowed me a chance to introduce my “weird” world pretty thoroughly. I hope you’ll give my series a try. Thank you, again for stopping by and for your sweet comment.

Oh, girl . . . if you like humor (however twisted) SEALED WITH A CURSE is the Urban Fantasy Romance for you! Although I’ll admit I don’t see my vamps getting spray-on tans. They’re rather lazy, and prefer to lounge around to get their UV rays. Thank you for stopping by.